Save Shaar Hagai Canaans

The end of the Canaans at Shaar Hagai???

Hello to everyone who knows us or has heard of us.  I am in a situation where I need to turn to anyone who can help in any possible way.

Shaar Hagai Kennels is  facing a serious legal suit by the Israel Government Lands Authority who intend to evict us and the dogs from the place where we have been living for nearly 42 years.  To anyone who is not familiar with the history here,  when I immigrated to Israel I chose to live in an isolated and derelict spot, with a few buildings that were built by the British during the mandate years, and were abandoned from the time they left.  This was my form of Zionism – to breed and preserve the Canaan Dog, the national and natural breed of Israel, and one of the few original breeds still existing in the world, in a place that was also worth preserving

We chose to live here,  in an isolated place that was in a condition of near total ruin when we moved here, without electricity or phone for 17 years, because it was a place where we could breed dogs, the Canaan Dogs, without bothering anyone.  We entered with a contract, and only after a number of years did we discover that the authority that we signed with had no rights over the place.  For all the years we have been here, we have attempted to resolve the problem and legalize our position, with continued contact with the authorities – to no effect, in fact we have been ignored.  And now they have decided, after total refusal to even enter into mediation, to evict us.  Their only plans are to demolish the place.

The Canaan Dog has great importance as one of the last representatives of the natural dog, as it was when it first became associated with man.  In most places these dogs have disappeared, but here in Israel there are still dogs living in nature and with the Bedouin that can be brought in to strengthen the gene pool.  This can not be done anywhere else.

Eviction will be a huge and disastrous blow to the breeding and preservation of the Canaan Dog, both here and in the world.  I have dedicated all my resources to the breeding of the dogs and their care.  My daughter was born here, and my grandchildren have been born here, and the family is united in their love for what we are doing here and the need to continue.  We do not have the resources and financial possibility of buying new land and building new kennels.  Just the legal costs of trying to defend ourselves is a huge burden.

We are turning to our friends and those that are aware of what we have been doing and the significance of it, to try to gain support that may help influence the decision makers. Please support us by joining our Facebook page, by sending us a note of support, by passing the word on to anyone who may have some influence, and help us to continue with the Canaan Dogs at Shaar Hagai Kennels.